Team Communication Research Paper

Total Length: 2456 words ( 8 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 3

Page 1 of 8

Team Communication

An interdisciplinary team is formed from a group of health care providers belonging to different fields of health sciences; they work together as a team to bring the best possible outcome for patient. The efficiency of this team is achieved by following three basic steps that include communication, coordination and sharing of responsibilities. In order to provide quality care in primary health care system, the hospitals need to get closely integrated with the whole health service system (Ilyas, 2006).

Who makes up the membership of the interdisciplinary team in this agency?

Members of the interdisciplinary team vary according to the age and the degree of disability of an individual. Main aim of such team is to provide support to the patient in the best possible manner. The interdisciplinary team members of Hospitals at Ontario, includes Physicians, Nurses, Midwife, Dietitian, Pharmacist, Psychologist, Podiatrist, Physiotherapist, Chiropractor and Occupational Therapist. In this hospital the Family Health Team is responsible to provide opportunity to the health practitioners to work as an interdisciplinary team in order to provide the best possible outcome for the patients. The health needs of people of Ontario are successfully met by a team of health providers who work in collaboration with one another and with the patient. According to consensus in Health Canada (2005), the interdisciplinary system is responsible to improve patient health care, provides recruitment and make better use of the health practitioners, enhances the communication between the health providers, results in efficient use of health resources and most of all it helps in improving the satisfaction both among the health practitioners and the patients who previously faced difficulty in searching for a good family physician. (Ontario, 2005)

Describe the education and role of the members of the interdisciplinary team.

According to research it has been observed that the shared working of the members of interdisciplinary team helps to educate and improve the knowledge and skills of the health professionals. It also creates a sense of responsibility and respects for other members of the team. Each practitioner should be provided by the list of their role and responsibility in order to avoid the chances of misunderstanding in relation to the procedures, protocols and authority. The main Role and responsibility of a family Physician is to provide the individual and their family with constant care. Due to this important role they are usually the first one approached in case of disease or injury. The family physicians on the basis of their vast knowledge, education and understanding of medicine they manage and treat the patient in the best possible manner. They are highly skilled in informing the patient the status of their health condition which helps them in taking decisions in the best possible way. They are experienced in tackling complicated patients with multiple problems and co-morbidities and manage the newly identified diseases on the basis of their scientific study. The family physician is responsible to provide health assessment, screening the patients with risk of inherited diseases, diagnose, manage and treat acute health condition and assessment of complication of chronic illnesses. They are also skilled to tackle emergency cases and specialized to provide the gynecological and obstetric care, awareness and prevention against the sexually transmitted diseases, immunization, provide mental and palliative care. Physicians also maintain the medical records and refer patients to other health providers. They work in collaboration with other members of the team. (Ontario, 2005)

The main role and responsibility of a registered Midwife is to take care and monitor the pregnant women from the time of conception up to six weeks after birth. Conduct necessary labs and provide prenatal counseling to the women. They are skilled to conduct normal vaginal delivery at home and in hospital settings. They also monitor the babies after birth. They help the pregnant women to take decision regarding their place of delivery. Soon after birth they inform the government authority reporting the birth of the baby. They work in collaboration with the physicians and refer the complicated cases. (Ontario, 2005)

According to Dietician Act (1991) the role and responsibility of a dietician is to assess the states of malnutrition and suggest nutrition according to need of an individual. They also provide counseling regarding the management of weight. They conduct various workshops to promote health. They work in collaboration with the physicians and convey the nutritional record of the patient to other health providers. (Ontario, 2005)

According to Pharmacy Act (1991), the Pharmacist is a health professional who compounds and distributes medicines as per requirement of patient; they also keep health aids and instruments.
Their main role is to manage patient medication, compliance and manage drugs accordingly in order to avoid risk of drug interactions and reactions. They work in collaboration with the physicians and help the patient to achieve the best possible outcome.

According to Chiropody Act (1991), the chiropodists are responsible to assess patient requirement of braces, cast, physical therapy and surgery. They provide foot care and treatment of common conditions such as corns, warts, injury, diabetes and vascular diseases. They educate patients regarding the importance of foot care in chronic disease conditions. They are also authorized to conduct surgery and X-rays as per requirement. They play a key role as a member of interdisciplinary team. (Ontario, 2005)

The mental health professionals are responsible to asses and treat the mental health conditions of the individual, family or a community. (Ontario, 2005)

The main role of the social worker is to provide an individual with psycho social and emotional support. They do assessment of individual psycho social problems or problems in a group, family or couples and help to provide treatment accordingly. They work in collaboration with other health professionals. (Ontario, 2005)

According to Psychology Act (1991), the role of the psychologist is to treat and prevent the mental and behavioral disorders and helps in proving the physical, emotional, intellectual and social functioning of an individual in a society. They also do pain management and psychological treatment. They educate people regarding the importance of mental well-being and provide ways to prevent it. (Ontario, 2005)

According to physiotherapy Act (1991), the physiotherapist they assess the physical ability of an individual and help to provide treatment in case of disability or injury. They help reducing pain and restoring the movement. They work in collaboration with other health providers. (Ontario, 2005)

Focus in on the role of the nurse within the team and with the patient/family. What communication skills are required of the nurse? How did he/she/they learn these effective communication skills?

According to Nursing Act (1991) Nurses are responsible to promote the patients regarding health evaluation and providing care and support to the patients in order to achieve the best possible outcome. The roles and responsibility of nurse differ with their types. There are three main types of registered nurses the Registered Nurse in Extended Class, Registered Nurses and Registered Practical Nurses. Registered Nurse in Extended Class has an advance education, skills and knowledge regarding health care and assessment in order to have a healthy community. They play an extensive role in promoting health, rehabilitation, curing disease and injury along with providing support. They provide thorough health assessment of the patient, manages the patient's initial treatment and prescribe drugs from approved lists, they may also help in formulating the medical diagnosis and conveying it forward, monitor the ongoing treatment, also advise screening, diagnostic tests, ECG, XRAYS and diagnostic ultrasound as per requirement . They also conduct health and prevention related education programs for individuals, for family and for a community as well. They work mainly in collaboration with the physicians. Depending on the health demand of a community, family health team may choose to hire registered nurses or registered practical nurses or may be both as a member of the interdisciplinary team. Their role and responsibility includes the assessment of patients physical, psychological and emotional needs, they are able to deliver the health records of the patient, Observe and records health outcomes of individual patient, in order to have a healthy community they take all measures to educate the individual, families and groups regarding the importance of health and preventive which helps them to take decisions regarding their health conditions. They work in collaboration with other members of the interdisciplinary team. (Ontario, 2005)

What is the importance communication within the interdisciplinary team? How does ineffective communication within the team impact the patient and family?

In order to have a successful Interdisciplinary Team, all the members of team should share same perspective or opinion regarding an individual. They should work in collaboration and cooperation with each other. Though in some cases the opinion of the members might vary, in this case consensus should be conducted in order to bring the best possible outcomes for an individual or a community. The factors which are essential to maintain a good communication are, trust and honesty between the different members of the team, focus on gaining patients trust, providing respect to each and every member of the….....

Show More ⇣


     Open the full completed essay and source list


OR

     Order a one-of-a-kind custom essay on this topic


sample essay writing service

Cite This Resource:

Latest APA Format (6th edition)

Copy Reference
"Team Communication" (2013, January 20) Retrieved May 13, 2024, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/team-communication-77369

Latest MLA Format (8th edition)

Copy Reference
"Team Communication" 20 January 2013. Web.13 May. 2024. <
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/team-communication-77369>

Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

Copy Reference
"Team Communication", 20 January 2013, Accessed.13 May. 2024,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/team-communication-77369